Champ Bailey's career in Denver

Champ Bailey will be 36 next season. He was due $9 million. His play had started to slip before the 2013 season, and then he missed most of last season with injuries. Given the choice of keeping Bailey around or saving $10 million in cap space, the Broncos made the obvious call.

That ends a 10-year stay for Bailey in Denver. It was a pretty remarkable decade for him.— Frank Schwab

2004: Cornerback Champ Bailey #24 of the Denver Broncos smiles during the game against the Carolina Panthers at Invesco Field on October 10, 2004 at Mile High Stadium in Denver, Colorado. The Broncos defeated the Panthers 20-17. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)

2004: Cornerback Champ Bailey #24 of the Denver Broncos smiles during the game against the Carolina Panthers at Invesco Field on October 10, 2004 at Mile High Stadium in Denver, Colorado. The Broncos defeated the Panthers 20-17. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)

2004: Champ Bailey #24 of the Denver Broncos looks on prior to the game against San Diego Chargers on September 26, 2004 at Invesco Field in Denver, Colorado. The Broncos defeated the Chargers 23-13. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

2004: Champ Bailey #24 of the Denver Broncos looks on prior to the game against San Diego Chargers on September 26, 2004 at Invesco Field in Denver, Colorado. The Broncos defeated the Chargers 23-13. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

2004: Champ Bailey #24 of the Denver Broncos shares a moment with Chad Johnson #85 of the Cincinnati Bengals on October 25, 2004 at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Bengals defeated the Broncos 23-10. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

2004: Champ Bailey #24 of the Denver Broncos shares a moment with Chad Johnson #85 of the Cincinnati Bengals on October 25, 2004 at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Bengals defeated the Broncos 23-10. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

2004: Wide receiver Eddie Kennison #87 of Kansas City Chiefs is tackled by cornerback Champ Bailey #24 of the Denver Broncos on December 19, 2004 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. The Chiefs won 45-17. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)

2004: Wide receiver Eddie Kennison #87 of Kansas City Chiefs is tackled by cornerback Champ Bailey #24 of the Denver Broncos on December 19, 2004 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. The Chiefs won 45-17. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)

2005: Cornerback Champ Bailey of the Denver Broncos puts on his helmet as he is ready for action on the first day of Training Camp at the Broncos Training Facility on July 29, 2005 in Englewood, Colorado. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

2005: Cornerback Champ Bailey of the Denver Broncos puts on his helmet as he is ready for action on the first day of Training Camp at the Broncos Training Facility on July 29, 2005 in Englewood, Colorado. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

2006: Denver Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey at an AFC team practice February 9 for the 2006 Pro Bowl in Honolulu. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)

2006: Denver Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey at an AFC team practice February 9 for the 2006 Pro Bowl in Honolulu. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)

2006: Champ Bailey #24 of the Denver Broncos breaks up a pass intended for Randy Moss #18 of the Oakland Raiders during the second quarter of the NFL game at McAfee Coliseum on November 12, 2006 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

2006: Champ Bailey #24 of the Denver Broncos breaks up a pass intended for Randy Moss #18 of the Oakland Raiders during the second quarter of the NFL game at McAfee Coliseum on November 12, 2006 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

2006: Champ Bailey lossens up before during the Broncos 37 to 20 win over the Cardinals at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona on December 17, 2006. (Photo by Mike Moore/Getty Images)

2006: Champ Bailey lossens up before during the Broncos 37 to 20 win over the Cardinals at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona on December 17, 2006. (Photo by Mike Moore/Getty Images)

2006: Cornerback Champ Bailey #24 of the Denver Broncos grabs his sixth interception of the year at the expense of wide receiver Darrell Jackson #82 of the Seattle Seahawks in the third quarter on December 3, 2006 at Invesco Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado. The Seahawks defeated the Broncos, 23-20. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)

2006: Cornerback Champ Bailey #24 of the Denver Broncos grabs his sixth interception of the year at the expense of wide receiver Darrell Jackson #82 of the Seattle Seahawks in the third quarter on December 3, 2006 at Invesco Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado. The Seahawks defeated the Broncos, 23-20. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)

2007: Cornerback Champ Bailey of the Denver Broncos poses during a portrait session for the NFL Players Association at the Raleigh Hotel on June 19, 2007 in Miami Beach, Florida. (Photo by Donald Miralle/Getty Images for the NFLPA)

2007: Cornerback Champ Bailey of the Denver Broncos poses during a portrait session for the NFL Players Association at the Raleigh Hotel on June 19, 2007 in Miami Beach, Florida. (Photo by Donald Miralle/Getty Images for the NFLPA)

2007: Champ Bailey #24 of the Denver Broncos intercepts a pass thrown by Brodie Croyle of the Kansas City Chiefs in the third quarter of the game at Invesco Field at Mile High December 9, 2007 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images)

2007: Champ Bailey #24 of the Denver Broncos intercepts a pass thrown by Brodie Croyle of the Kansas City Chiefs in the third quarter of the game at Invesco Field at Mile High December 9, 2007 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images)

2007: Champ Bailey poses for a portrait at The Raleigh on June 20, 2007 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images for PLAYERS INC)

2007: Champ Bailey poses for a portrait at The Raleigh on June 20, 2007 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images for PLAYERS INC)

2008: Champ Bailey of the Denver Broncos and Kendra Wilkinson of the Girls Next Door stand together at the Denver Nuggets v the Los Angeles Lakers in Game Four of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2008 NBA Playoffs on April 28, 2008 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado.

2008: Champ Bailey of the Denver Broncos and Kendra Wilkinson of the Girls Next Door stand together at the Denver Nuggets v the Los Angeles Lakers in Game Four of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2008 NBA Playoffs on April 28, 2008 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado.

2009: Denver Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey intercepts a pass by Dallas Cowboys Tony Romo in the third quarter at Invesco Field in Denver, Colorado, on Sunday, October 4, 2009. The Broncos won 17-10. (Ron Jenkins/ Fort Worth Star-Telegram//MCT)

2009: Denver Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey intercepts a pass by Dallas Cowboys Tony Romo in the third quarter at Invesco Field in Denver, Colorado, on Sunday, October 4, 2009. The Broncos won 17-10. (Ron Jenkins/ Fort Worth Star-Telegram//MCT)

r_Bronco2010: Cornerback Champ Bailey #24 of the Denver Broncos stands on the sidelines during the NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at the University of Phoenix Stadium on December 12, 2010 in Glendale, Arizona. The Cardinals defeated the Broncos 43-13. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

2010: Cornerback Champ Bailey #24 of the Denver Broncos stands on the sidelines during the NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at the University of Phoenix Stadium on December 12, 2010 in Glendale, Arizona. The Cardinals defeated the Broncos 43-13. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Denver Broncos v Arizona Cardinals

GLENDALE, AZ - SEPTEMBER 01: Cornerback Champ Bailey #24 of the Denver Broncos stands on the sidelines during the preseason NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at the University of Phoenix Stadium on September 1, 2011 in Glendale, Arizona. The Cardinals defeated the Broncos 26-7. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

2011: Champ Bailey #24 of the Denver Broncos waits for his name to be called during player introductions before a home game against the New England Patriots on December 18, 2011 at Sports Authority Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Marc Piscotty/Getty Images)

2011: Champ Bailey #24 of the Denver Broncos waits for his name to be called during player introductions before a home game against the New England Patriots on December 18, 2011 at Sports Authority Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Marc Piscotty/Getty Images)

Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant, left, is congratulated by Denver Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey after the Lakers' 92-88 victory over the Denver Nuggets in Game 4 of the teams' first-round NBA basketball series in Denver on Sunday, May 6, 2012. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant, left, is congratulated by Denver Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey after the Lakers' 92-88 victory over the Denver Nuggets in Game 4 of the teams' first-round NBA basketball series in Denver on Sunday, May 6, 2012. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Denver Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey watches the Denver Nuggets play the Los Angeles Lakers with an unidentified woman in Game 4 of their NBA Western Conference basketball playoffs in Denver

Denver Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey watches the Denver Nuggets play the Los Angeles Lakers with an unidentified woman in Game 4 of their NBA Western Conference basketball playoffs in Denver May 6, 2012. REUTERS/Rick Wilking

2013: Torrey Smith #82 of the Baltimore Ravens can't make the catch on a pass as he is defended by Champ Bailey #24 of the Denver Broncos in the second quarter during the AFC Divisional Playoff Game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on January 12, 2013 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)

2013: Torrey Smith #82 of the Baltimore Ravens can't make the catch on a pass as he is defended by Champ Bailey #24 of the Denver Broncos in the second quarter during the AFC Divisional Playoff Game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on January 12, 2013 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)

Seattle Seahawks' Percy Harvin is tackled by Denver Broncos' Champ Bailey during the first half of the NFL Super Bowl XLVIII football game Sunday, Feb. 2, 2014, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Seattle Seahawks' Percy Harvin is tackled by Denver Broncos' Champ Bailey during the first half of the NFL Super Bowl XLVIII football game Sunday, Feb. 2, 2014, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

AFC Championship - New England Patriots v Denver Broncos

DENVER, CO - JANUARY 19: Peyton Manning #18 and Champ Bailey #24 of the Denver Broncos talk during warm-ups prior to their AFC Championship game against the New England Patriots at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on January 19, 2014 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Denver Broncos Super Bowl XLVIII Media Availability

JERSEY CITY, NJ - JANUARY 29: Champ Bailey #24 of the Denver Broncos speaks to the media during an availability January 29, 2014 in Jersey City, New Jersey. The Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks will meet at Super Bowl XLVIII at Metlife Stadium on February 2, 2014. (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images)